Chardham Yatra A Salvation Journey to Abode of God

Our country India is dotted with plentiful religious destinations where God seekers can find utmost solace. Chardham of Uttarakhand, perched amid the lofty peaks of Garhwal Himalayas, is one such extremely sacred destination where scores of devotees make a bee line in search of God and salvation.

Chardham Temples of Uttarakhand

These Chardham in the high Himalayas are however different from the greater India Chardham circuit. The chardhams of Uttarakhand, namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are also referred to as the Chota Chardham and are a replica of the greater all-India Chardhams. Apart from these four Dham, there are also many other awe-inspiring places to visit in and around the region. However, most of the visitors to Chardhams are ignorant of these hidden wonders of nature

Badrinath

Badrinath Temple

Badrinath One of the major pilgrimage centers for Hindus, Badrinath is held in very high esteem by them. Though the temple at Badrinath is reputed to belong to the Vedic era it was actually built by Adi Shankaracharya. Badrinath falls in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, is situated on the banks of river Alaknanda and is perched at a height of 3133 mts.

Badrinath is covered by snow for about half the year round. During this period the temple remains closed while Lord Badrinath moves to Joshimath. Joshimath is one of the four maths built by Shankaracharya. What is worth noting here is the fact that around this time the temples of Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath are also closed.

The path leading to Badrinath is surrounded with hilly landscape, steep curve, and enchanting Himalayan panorama and presents a captivating spectacle. Presence of hot water springs further adds attraction to the place. The route to Badrinath is often crowded as it also leads to Hemkund Sahib, a popular and important pilgrimage center for Sikhs.

Beside Badrinath temple a valley leads to Neelkanth Peak which is the embodiment of everything sacred, pious and pure in the region. The priests of Badrinath Temple are popular as Rawals and are normally the Namboodiri Brahmins belonging to Kerala, a clan to which Shankaracharya also belonged. Badrinath Temple Committee and the king of Tehri Garhwal jointly appoint a Rawal who knows the puja rituals and is a scholar in Sanskrit.

Badrinath Fact File

• Country: India
• State: Uttarakhand
• District: Chamoli
• Language: Hindi, Garhwali and English
• Area: 3 km2 (1 sq mi)
• Elevation: 3,415m (11,204 ft)
• Population: 841 (2001)
• Density: 280/km2 (725/sq mi)
• Time Zone: IST (UTC+05:30)
• Pin Code: 246422
• Best Time to Visit: May to September

Emergency Contact No

• Police: 100
• Ambulance: 102
• Fire: 101

Kedarnath

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Dham Kedarnath is held in very high esteem by Hindus around the world largely for its ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its following amongst the tribe can be gauged from the fact that it's every Hindu's ambition to pay a visit to the holy place at least once in his life time.

Kedarnath is situated at the height of 3584 meters and is perched on the mountain peaks overlooking some of the most spectacular views of nature. The place oozes calmness which brings immediate relief to turbulent minds. It is believed that one cleanses himself of all the sin and return home redeemed after a visit to Kedarnath.

Kedarnath does not only possess holy temples and shrines but is also host to wide vistas of flora and fauna and breathtakingly beautiful natural environ. With eternal peace spread around and gentle breeze blowing through the place an aura is created where people realize the mistakes they have committed and take a vow of never repeating them.

The route to Kedarnath is also very conducive to adventure sports like trekking or mountaineering as a result the place is also frequented by enthusiasts whole are passionate about mountains and mountain sports.

Kedarnath is named after King Kedar who existed in Satya Yuga. Both the place as well as its temple is supposes to have been existence from Mahabharata age. It is widely that Kedarnath is the place where Pandavas worshipped Lord Shiva to gain his blessings.

The 'Samadhi' of Adi Guru Shankaracharya lies just behind the temple of Kedarnath. As per the popular legend he went into Samadhi after establishing the four Dham. Shankaracharya was just 32 then!

The head priest (Rawal) of Kedarnath Temple is from Veerashaiva community which hails from Karnataka. However, contrary to Badrinath Temple the Rawals of Kedarnath Temple do not perform puja by themselves. There assistants perform the puja under their guidance.

Kedarnath Fact File

• State: Uttarakhand
• District: Rudraprayag
• USP: Major pilgrimage center for Hindus, Jyotirlinga
• Languages: Garhwali, Hindi, English
• Best Season: Mar - Oct
• Weather: Summer 15 to 30°C, winter 0 to 24°C
• Altitude: 3553 m
• Pincode: 246445
• STD code: 01372

Gangotri

Gangotri Temple

Gangotri A small town, Gangotri derives its importance from being one of the important holy destinations for Hindus. The place is home to the most important temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Amar Singh Thapa, the famous Gorkha General, is credited with constructing the Gangotri Temple which exists today.

Perched at a height of 3048 mts. above sea level lies the holy city of Gangotri. Flanked by Bhagirathi River, the place firmly establishes its claim as being one of the important centers to constitute Char Dham in Uttarakhand.

The place has a natural Shivling submerged under water which is clearly visible in winters when the water level decreases. Legend has it that this was the place where Lord Shiva restricted the Ganges in his locks when her force proved too much for the earth.

Gangotri is set in an enchanting location with lush green scenery spread far and wide. The place has rough terrains, crystal clear water of Bhagirathi River and snow tipped mountain peaks which make the place attractive. The origin of Bhagirathi River, Gaumukh Glacier, lies at a distance of 18 kms. from Gangotri and can only be reached on foot.

Gangotri holds great importance for Hindus who make it a point to visit this holy place at least once in their life time. The place also attracts all those who find pleasure in adventure sports as the place offers ample opportunity for trekking, mountaineering, swimming etc.

Gangotri Temple is closed during winters as the place witnesses heavy snowfall.

Gangotri Fact File

• Altitude: 3084m
• Climate: Summers have pleasant days; winter is oppressive and witnesses heavy rainfall.
• When to Visit: April to October
• Clothing: Woolens all through the year.
• Languages Spoken: Hindi, English, Garhwali
• Airport: Jolly Grant airport is closest to Gangotri and lies about 265 km from Gangotri.
• Railway Station: Rishikesh Railway Station is closest to Gangotri and is about 248 km away.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri is the source from where river Yamuna emanates. It is also included amongst one of the four major sites of Char Dham and is a must visit pilgrimage spot for Hindus. Perched at a height of 3293 meters above sea level Yamunotri lies in Uttarkashi, situated close to Indo-China border. The path leading to Yamunotri Temple is replete with rough cliffs and thick forest. Devotees often hire a horse or take a palanquin on rent to reach the temple. The climate of the place is very harsh and is covered in snow for most part of the year. No matter which part of the year you might be visiting Yamunotri it is always advisable to carry some woolens with you.

The Yamunotri Temple serves as the first stop-over for all those set out on a voyage to Char Dham. The temple itself is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and attracts large number of devotees between May and October.

Yamunotri Temple, which was constructed by Maharani Guleria of Jaipur, is amongst one of the prominent attractions of Yamunotri. Surya Kund, which is a spring of hot water, is another great attraction of the region. Devotees boil rice and vegetable in its hot water and take it as 'Prasad' to their homes. Divya Shila, a rock pillar, also holds an important position in the region. Devotees pay obeisance to the pillar before entering in the premises of Yamunotri Temple.

Yamunotri Fact File

• Altitude: 3,235 m.
• Climate: Summers: Cool during the day and cold at night, Winters: Snow-bound touching sub-zero.
• Clothing: Summers: Light woolens, Winters: Very heavy woollens.
• Languages: Hindi, Garhwali and English.
• Eating Out: Only local eating houses (Dhabas) are available. Non-veg and alcohol are strictly prohibited in Yamunotri.
• Airport: Jolly Grant Airport is closes to Yamunotri.
• Railway Station: Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh Railway Station is closest to Yamunotri.

Badrinath Temple: The Shrine of Lord Vishnu

One can never be content with his/her existence unless the source of the existence is known and believed in. The source of all forms of life and everything else is the Almighty, who has always been worshiped by humans in different forms. A form of Almighty, Lord Vishnu, is worshiped by many Hindus in various temples in the country. Badrinath Temple of Uttarakhand is a place where Lord Vishnu’s avatar is worshiped by thousands of devotees, this temple is one of the four divine sites or the Char Dham, as it is traditionally known.

Location

Badrinath Temple is located in Badrinath, a hill-town of Uttarakhand.

History

Before the temple was constructed, the town was consecrated as a pilgrimage by Adi Shankara, an ancient philosopher, upon his finding of an idol of Badrinarayan, an avatar of Lord Vishnu in a river. He places the idol inside a cave, thus establishing a shrine. The idol was shifted from the cave to the present day temple by a ruler from Garhwal Kingdom during the 16th century.

Badrinath Temple

The temple that we see today is a result of several renovations performed over the existing structure, as it was damaged with time and natural calamities; the major damage caused by an earthquake in the beginning of 19th century, following which it was mostly rebuilt by the King of Jaipur.

A legend states that the statue of Lord Vishnu in Padmasana is placed here, as he meditated in Badrinath for a long time, castigating himself after a sage saw him getting his feet massaged by his consort. This belief has resulted in several yogis flocking to the city for recluse and meditation. Another legend states that while Vishnu was meditating here, his consort Lakshmi manifested into a Badri Vishal (bael fruit tree) while Vishnu became Badrinath (nath=lord).

One more legend mentions that while Shiva and Parvati were meditating here, they were disturbed by Lord Vishnu, who arrived in the form of a boy crying loudly. When Parvati asked as to why he is crying, the boy said that he wanted to meditate in Badrinath. The couple realized that the boy was none other than Lord Vishnu himself and they gladly left Badrinath.

Badrinath temple is considered as one of the five shrines, known as Panch Badri, dedicated to this avatar of Lord Vishnu. The other five are Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vridh Badri.

Structure

The temple rises to a height of 50 feet. A cupola can be seen at the top of the temple, which has been covered by a gilt roof. The stone facade of the temple features arched windows.
Entrance to the temple is through an arched gateway, which can be reached through a long stairway. Just next to the entrance is a hall with tall pillars, which further leads to the sanctum sanctorum. The walls and pillars of the hall, known as the Mandapa, are carved out with detailing for perfection.

Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the idol of Badrinath is seen in the form of a black stone, above which is a canopy and a Badri tree. Apart from the main shrine, there are another fifteen idols inside the temple.

Devotees take a bath in the Tapt Kund below the temple, water of which is believed to have healing properties. This is a hot water spring, temperature of which usually remains around 45 degrees throughout the year.

Festivals, Traditions and Timings

The head priest of the temple is called Rawal and despite the location of temple being in North India, the priest of the temple belongs to the state of Kerala. This priest, along with the Pundits from a nearby village known as Dimmer, performs the temple rituals.

Badrinath Opening Ceremony

The Rawal is required to be a Brahmachari. He is required to perform the rituals from the months of March through mid November. His duties begin from 04:00 a.m.

Mata Murti ka Mela is an important festival celebrated at Badrinath Temple. During this festival, the mother of Lord Badrinath is worshiped by the devotees. It is celebrated in the month of September.

Another important festival celebrated at Badrinath Temple is the Badri Kedar Festival. Various rituals are performed during this festival for a period of eight days in the month of June.

Krishna Janmashtami is also celebrated with great zeal at the temple.

The opening and closing hours of the temple are 04:30 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. and 04:00 p.m. to 09:00 p.m.

Accommodation and Other Facilities

There are several budget hotels and ashrams near the temple complex that offer accommodation facility to the devotees arriving from outside.

Visitors can also stay in the tents provided by the local people or set up their own tents.

Several eateries serve food and snacks near the temple complex though non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited.

Tourists can purchase several Ayurvedic products manufactured by a local pharmacy. These products and medicines are very famous throughout the country.

Other products that tourists can purchase from Badrinath include woolen clothes, sea shells, bracelets, beads, holy books, etc.

Travel Tips

Tourists must plan their visit to Badrinath Temple between the months of May to June and September to November. Post November, the beginning of winter season usually results in heavy snowfall, which blocks the routes and passages of the valley. Even before October, during the monsoons, the area is prone to have landslides which can create a roadblock for the vehicles.

The temperature of Badrinath rarely goes above 20 degrees, thus making it mandatory for the tourists to carry warm clothes and necessary precautions while traveling to this pilgrimage.

How to Reach

The nearest airport from Badrinath is located at Dehradun, at a distance of approximately 315 kilometres.

The nearest railway stations from Badrinath are at Rishikesh and Kotdwar, at a distance of 297 and 327 kilometres respectively.

From either of the airport and railway stations, a number of chartered transport vehicles and buses are available for Badrinath on a frequent basis.

Best Places To Visit In Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, a state carved out of Uttar Pradesh, lies in the northern ends of the country and has the magnificent Himalayan ranges running through it. The state enjoys great repute for it sublime natural beauty and celebrated pilgrimage destinations. For the religiously inclined, Uttarakhand is a true ‘Daivya Bhoomi’ where you could encounter the true ‘divinity’. For nature lovers Uttarakhand is the perfect paradise to commune with nature and discover divinity amid the beauteous nature of the place. No matter wherein lies your faith, i.e. whether it’s in nature or in the Almighty, a trip to Uttarakhand will definitely prove to be a soul-elevating experience for anyone.

The state is blessed with a huge repertoire of exciting tourist destinations that include beautiful hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries and pilgrimage spots. Some of the most popular Uttarakhand tourist destinations are Nainital, Ranikhet, Kausani, Almora, Pithoragarh, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Chamba etc

Haridwar

haridwar the city of god [source]

Haridwar is an important Hindu Pilgrimage destination located in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. The city is well known for its temples, pilgrimage destinations and more of all it is the gateway to the four main pilgrimage destinations of Chardham Yatra Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. According to the legend it is believed that after taking a holy dip in the river one can wash away the sins and wrong doing in the life. So the holy Haridwar is visited by pilgrims and devotees from across the world to revive the soul and mind with the holy bath in the river and offering prayers at the revered temples in Haridwar.

Mussoorie

Kempty Falls, Mussoorie [source]

Located approximately 2000 mtrs above the sea level, Mussoorie is a picturesque hill station in Uttarakhand, India popularly known as “Queen of Hills”. The salubrious weather conditions and the amazing sightseeing spots make this hill station very popular among the nature lovers and holiday makers.

Mussoorie apart from natural beauty it is also popular for its scintillating sightseeing spots as well as the famous char Dham Yatra Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and the Badrinath are not very far away from Mussoorie. Some of the important places to visit on tour to Mussoorie are Municipal Garden, Jharipani Falls, Kempty Fall, Nag Devta Temple, Mussoorie Lake, Benong Hill, Naga Tibba, Camel’s Back Road, Childer’s Lodge and Gun Hill.

Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park [source]

Jim Corbett located in the newly created state Uttarakhand is the paradise for animal lovers and nature lovers. Jim Corbett National Park was founded in 1936 and later the park name was changed in the honor of the famous hunter and conservationists Jim Corbett.

The national park is also famous for conserving nature as well as varied species of animals and plants. The park is mostly known for preserving the endangered tigers as this mammoth cat family is one the verge of extinctions. So travel to Jim Corbett and enjoy wildlife tours and jungle safari to spots the various species of plants and animals moving freely inside the park.

Nainital

Mall Road, Nainital [source]

Nainital is an important tourist destination famous for its outstanding natural beauty, picturesque lakes and blissful ambiance that make it truly a nature lover’s paradise. The name of this quaint hill town is derived from the Naini Lake, which is a prominent tourist spot.

Nainital is truly a gem in the crown of the Himalayas as the scenic lakes and the nature bounds adorns it with magnetizing look that leaves every visitor to Nainital spell bound.  Some of the important tourist places to visit during Nainital tours are Naini Lake, Naini Temple, Jim Corbett National Park, Bhim Tal, Land’s End, The Mall and Astronomical Observatory. So enjoy blissful holidays filled with immense fun and joy and take back home remarkable memories to enjoy in forever.

Almora

Kasar Devi Temple, Almora [source]

Almora is a beautiful hill town located in the state of Uttarakhand. Like many other places in the state, Almora is also famous for its outstanding natural beauty, gorgeous landscapes, mist kissed hill, evergreen natural surroundings, rich heritage and culture and glorious past that draws the attention of tourist from all over the world.

Almora is also the perfect place for weekend gateway, where tourist can enjoy romantic honeymoon holidays, leisure vacation as well as family tours in a delightful and memorable way. So plan your trip to Almora and soak in the marvelous splendor of nature to enjoy the vacation for a long time.

Best Time to Visit
Almora is visited by tourists all the year round, but the best time to visit this hill town is from March to November.

Tourist Attraction in Almora
Almora has host of tourist places and sightseeing spots, which are incredibly beautiful and alluring that engulf the heart of the tourists with its beauty. Some of the important attractions in Almora are

• Govind Vallabh Pant Public Museum, Almora Fort
• Deer Park, Bright End Corner
• Kasar Devi, Nanda Devi
• Almora Fort, Lakhudiyar

Gangotri

Gangotri Temple

Gangotri is one among the four important pilgrimage destination of Chardham Yatra. Located in the district of Uttarkashi, the holy place is dedicated in the name of the holy goddesses Ganga. The myth is related with the place and so many of the pilgrims and devotees especially from Hindu religion come here to offer prayer at the holy shrine. 

Gangotri is also the lovely place for sightseeing tours apart from holy temple tours. Here enjoy visit to Shivling, Gaumukh, Tapovan, Gangotri Trek and Bhairon Ghati.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri Dham

Yamunotri is a revered and holy pilgrimage destination. It is the source of the river Yamuna as well as it is one of the important pilgrimage destination of the famous Chardham Yatra. The Yamuna temple dedicated to the goddesses Yamuna is visited by thousands of hundreds of pilgrims from across India to offer prayers and to seek blessing for happy and joyful life.

Apart from being an important pilgrimage destination, Yamunotri is also famous for its temples, Kunds, picturesque lakes and outstanding natural beauty. So plan a tour to this holy pilgrimage place Yamunotri and revive your soul and wash away your sin by offering prayers as well as rejuvenating in the splendor of the nature.

Rishikesh

Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh

Rishikesh the holy city located in the state Uttarakhand is well known for its ancient temples, overflowing Ganges, scenic sightseeing spots, emerald green hills and salubrious climatic conditions. Rishikesh is also famous for river rafting and being close to the capital city, most of the adventure lovers visit Rishikesh for rafting and trekking.

On Rishikesh tour visit to some important tourist places that include Triveni Ghat, Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Bharat Mandir, Kailash Niketan Temple, Hanuman Mandir, Rishikund and Raghunath Temple. So enjoy vacation amidst the splendor of nature as well as offer prayers at the holy shrines at Rishikesh to make the tour enjoyable and memorable.

Badrinath

Badrinath Temple

Badrinath is a holy pilgrimage destination of Hindu religion. Badrinath is the adobe of Lord Vishnu and so pilgrims and devotees from across India and abroad come here to offer prayers at the holy temple to seek blessing for happy and joyful life.

Every year tourists and pilgrims from across the world come to this holy Badrinath Temple to offer prayers as during the winter time the temple is closed due to the heavy snowfall. So visit to this holy town and offer prayer at the revered shrine for salvation and peaceful life.

Kedarnath

Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath is also an important holy town in Uttaranchal drawing thousands and thousands of pilgrims and devotees from across the globe. The town is well known for its holy temples as well as it is also an important destination of the Chardham Yatra, which is must for every Hindu religion for salvation.

The hill town is also famous for its outstanding natural beauty and holds some important tourist places that include Sonaprayag, Triyuginarayan, Gaurikund and Chorabari. These are the important tourist places which tourist can visit apart from holy temple tour in Kedarnath.

Kausani

On the way to Kausani

Kausani is a picturesque town located in the mountainous Uttarakhand. The town is marvelously encircled by the mountains, evergreen surrounding and picturesque sightseeing spots make it an ideal place to break from the summer heat. The best time to visit this heavenly Kausani is from April to September.